Waves C6 MB Compressor - I'm going to preface this by saying that multiband compression is not for the faint at heart. I know we're talking about instruments here, but I love this model on my high percussion channels like hats and cymbals. As such, this model will give the flattest frequency response across all frequencies. Also fun fact, the Beatles' first album was recorded on this model of a tape machine.Ĩ15 - This model was popularized throughout the early 70s where technological improvements really began to hit their stride in regards to tape machines.

This is my preferred model emulation for instruments with a lot of low-mid frequencies (such as basses or low pads) because it adds increased distortion around the 1kHz-8kHz range.Ĩ11 - Around the early 60s, new technology of tape machines was becoming popular as acetate bases began to fall out of favor and mylar/polyester bases coated in oxide became the new norm for tape machines, allowing for longer shelf lives on the tapes! These improvements also brought higher fidelity in the upper frequencies and less blatant distortion than the previous model, which makes this an ideal model when processing lead synths and strings. So let me do the same here.Ĩ88 - Modeled after the EMI magnetic tape machines sold throughout the mid-50s to the early 80s. Pro Tip: I remember when I wrote my deep-dive article on Soundtoys plugins I had a ton of people thanking me for breaking down the exact model emulations of plugins like this (shown on this here plugin as 'formulas').

This article includes a few audio examples of Waves plugins in action, so make sure to grab your headphones when referencing many of these examples and grab the samples used throughout completely for free right here. I'm going to break down everything you need to know about every Waves plugin I use in my tracks, and how I've applied these powerful tools to mix down records that have gone on to accrue hundreds of millions of plays. As such, it's understandable if you feel like a teenager stepping behind the wheel of a million-dollar Camaro whenever opening up the Waves plugin browser.īut this article is going to fix all of that for you. Lastly, Waves plugins come with a certain amount of pedigree AKA every Grammy-winning mix engineer knows these plugins like the back of their hand.

Second, they certainly are not for the faint of heart, and the countless bells and whistles embedded within Waves plugins make them miles ahead of any generic plugins that come stock in your DAW. Firstly, there are hundreds of them from which to choose. Having access to even a single bundle of Waves plugins can open up so many avenues, both creatively and from a technical standpoint.īut this is a double-edged sword, as Waves plugins can also be intimidating for myriad reasons. Waves plugins are some of the most powerful tools in a mix engineer's armory.

Mercury waves 9.6